Speed governor for electric motors



May 5, 1942. w F, PECK ErAL 2,281,711

SPEED GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed June 8,l 1939 l5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS gh., 7? M Mall/61,4 W. ff. fl?? ATTORNEY May 5, 1942- w. F. PECK Em 2,281,711

SPEED GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS 'Filed June 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v fl f* INVENT RS ATTORNEY May 5, 1942.v w. F. PECK ETAL 2,281,711

SPEED GOVERNOR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS Filed June 8, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 MII-mm INVENTORS M @aww/ww m @WW ATTO R N EY Patented May 5, 1942 2,281,711 srnEn ,GovEaNoa ron ELECTRIC Mo'roas William F. Peck and Charles M. Sperazx. Kenmore, N. Y., assigner: to Spencer Lens Company, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 8, 1939, Serial No. 278,092 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-80) This invention relates to a governor for maintaining the speed of an electric motor constant at whatever speed may be desired.

The general object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive speed governor which will i possess a maximum of reliability and will hold the speed of the motor constant within very narrow limits.

One of the specific objects of the invention is to eliminate the need of brushes in a governor of this type. Another specific object of the invention is to provide a governor of this type in which are incorporated electric contact points whose operating faces will lie in parallel planes under all operating conditions. Still another specific object of the invention is to provide a construction of speed governor which will permit of being readily assembled and disassembled. i

Numerous other objects of the invention. and practical solutions thereof are disclosedin detail in the herein patent specification wherein, in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of

type of motor with the armature II connected in series with the field I2. Whenever the main control switch I3 is closed the electric current passes from the line I4 in series through said amature II and field I2 and through a ilxed shunt resistance I5. Arranged in parallel across said shunt resistance I5 is a pair of contacts I6 and I'I and the usual accompanying condenser I 8.

an electric motor equipped with our improved 25 speed governor. v

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sections thereof taken on correspondingly numbered lines of,Fi8. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detached end elevation of the spider which supports the regulating contact.

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the motor taken on line 5 5 Fig. 6, showing the position of the parts on the motor when the same is operating at a higher speedv than that shown in Figs. 1-3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section thereof taken on line 6 6 Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring vdiagram of the motor with the present improved speed control attached thereto.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section through a modified form of the invention, taken on line 8 8 Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section thereof taken Aon line 9 9 Fig. 8.

Flg. 10 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through still another modified form of the invention,

Similar characters of reference indicate like parts throughoutlthe several gures of the drawings.

The numeral IILindicates a conventional electric motor which may be wound in any desired manner as, for instance, that shown diagrammatically in' Fig. 'l which shows a series wound When these contacts are closed (as shown in the drawings) said shunt resistance I5 is close circuited and the full line voltage is impressed upon the motor armature and field. This condition obtains when the motor is operating under maximum power. The condition which obtains, on the other hand, when the contacts I6, I 'I are open corresponds to the lowest current input into the motor. Between these two extremes the amount of current which is fed to the motor is a function of the length of time the contacts I6, I1 are closed.

The present invention consists entirely of the control of these contacts I6, I'I, and consists more particularly of an improved form of control which is a direc-t function of the speed of the motor. In addition to this, the arrangement is such that this control is a function of whatever particular speed may be desired by the operator.`

'I'he mechanism whereby these results are obtained is constructed as follows:

Secured to the shaft I9 of the motor by means of set screws or otherwise is a disc shaped, rotating head 2 I. Adjacent the periphery of said head rotating at the one side thereof the metal is punched and bent outwardly to form a pair of pivot ears 22, 22 to which is fulcrumed at 2.3 a switch actuating lever or member 2l which is preferably formed of sheet metal as shown. At one side of said lever 24 is integrally formed a lateral extension 25 whose extreme outer end is bent to form a lip 26 having a pivot hole 21 which pivotally receives the one end of a link 28. This pivotal connection between said link 28 and the pivot hole 21 of the lip 26 is preferably effected by giving the outer end of said link an S bend so that it may be readily inserted into the pivot hole 21 during the assembly operation and yet be positively prevented from becoming disengaged in service.

The other end of said link 28 is connected by a simple form of ball and socket joint 30 with y the free end of a resilient arm 3l which is constructed preferably of sheet material, as shown, and is secured at its dead end, by rivets 32 or otherwise, to a bracket 33 which is struck out n from the body of the rotating head 2 I. Said ball spider with the electric lead wire and socket joint is made by forming a head '34 at the outer end of the link 28 to bear against the outer tace of said resilient arm 3| and then v soldering a tubular thrust sleeve 35 to said link adjacent the inner face of sald resilient arm.

To the extremity of the free end of said resilient arm is secured a centrifugal weight 36 and the arm itself is so constructed and arranged as Y at all times to resiliently urge said centrifugal weight toward a stop 31 which is struck out from the body of the rotating head 2|. -To permit the resilient arm 3| to operate over a relatively large field of movement without unduly changing the force of its resilient resistance the same is preferably rendered soft" in its action by the employment of a backing spring 38 which is secured to the bracket 33 by; the same rivets 32 that secure the dead end of the resilient arm 3| to said bracket.

The inner end of the actuating lever 24 is provided with a round headed button 48 which is substantially coaxial with the axis of the shaft I9 of the motor and is preferably constructed of some such non-conducting material as liber. This button is normally urged resiliently outwardly against the `aforementioned regulating electric contact I6 under the resilient iniiuence of the resilient arm 3| and its backing spring 38.

This regulating contact I6 has a reduced annular neck 42 which is received within an annular hole 43 formed coaxially at the center of a three legged, resilient, spider 44. To enable said contact to be assembled in position in the spider, the latter is provided with a number of short radiali slits 45 which open into the hole 43 and provide what are in effect a number of radially inwardly projecting tongues 46 which flex resiliently when the regulating contact I6 is being pushedintoplace thereby permitting the effective diameter of the hole 43 to be momentarily increased until the contact I6 has moved far enough outwardly to enable the resilient tongues 46 of the spider 44 to register with the reduced neck 42 of said contact. Thereupon, said resilient `tongues 46 snap into said reduced neck 42 and firmly restrain any movement thereafter of said contact I6 relatively to the spider 44. To reduce the electrical resistance between said 'contact I6 and the spider 44 the two may be bonded together with solder if desired. The outer end of each of the three legs of the spider 44`is given a reverse curl at 41 and is secured by a companion cap screw 48 to a companion anchor post 49 vwhich is integrally formed on the inner face of a cap 58. One of these cap screws 48 additionally serves to electrically connect the The cap 58 is preferably constructed of some non-conducting material such as Bakelite and is secured by cap screws 52 to the tubular extension 53 of the main body of the motor I8. The fact that the outer ends of the legs of the spider 44 are given a reverse curl permits the regulating contact I6 to be moved longitudinally a considerable distance and yet always be constrained to move in a strictly translatory manner, preferably, though not necessarily, parallel to the axis A of the motor I8. To permit a screw driver to regulating head 51 The latter is adapted to be actuated manually by avknurled adjusting sleeve 58 which is press iitted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. To impose a frictional resistance against any vaccidental change of adjustment of said regulating head 5|, and, at the same time, to take up any backlash in the threaded connection between said regualting head and the collar 56, a helical compression spring 68 is provided, which encircles the speed regulating head 51 and is disposed longitudinally between its adjusting sleeve 58 and the collar 56. For the sake of neat appearance and to keep dirt out of the spring 68 it is encased in a tubular casing 6| which is inwardly anged at its inner end so asto be rmlypressed at all times by said spring 60 against the outer face of the flanged collar 56. To prevent the regulating head 51 from being screwed outwardly an undue amount its inner end is provided with an external annular groove which is adapted to receive a resilient split limitingring 62. Thus, when the regulating head 51 has been screwed out to the limit of its desired outward movement this split limiting ring 62 strikes against the inner face of the ilanged collar 56 and prevents any further unscrewing of said regulating head. If desired the adjusting sleeve 58 may be provided with some suitable form of scale so as to be able to set it at any certain predetermined point. v

The inner end of said regulating head 51 is axially bored outA and within this bored out portion, but separated from said regulating head 51 by a, tubular installation 63, is an adjusting stud 64. To the extreme inner end of this stud is soldered or otherwise secured aforedescribed adjusting contact I1, the inner face of which is always maintained parallel to the juxtaposed face of the regulating contact |6 by reason of the fact that the axis of rotation of said adjusting contact |1 is always maintained coincident with or parallel to the axis of the regulating contact I6.

To connect the adjusting contact |1 with the rest of the external electrical system without preventing rotation of said adjusting contact or its regulating head 51, a resilient current-conveying arm 65 is employed, the outer end of which is of U shape at 66 to embrace a suitable reduced neck which isformed on the inner end of the adjusting stud 64. The outer end of this current-conveying arm 65 is given a reverse curl at 61 and is secured tofthe inner face of the cap 58, and is, at the same time, electrically connected with the electric lead wire 61.

OPERATION When the operator desires the motor I8 to rotate at a certain constant low speed he unscrews the adjusting sleeve 58 to some such position as that shown Ain Figs. 1-3 incl. the main motor switch |3 is closed and that the motor I8 has not yet come up to speed, the forcel of the resilient arm 3|, pushes the centrifugal weight 36 inward and the actuating lever 24 and its ber button 48 outward. The latter pushes the regulating contact I6 outward against the relatively small resilient resistance of the spider 44 so as to cause said regulating contact to bear against the adjusting contact I1. This close circuits the shunt resistance I5 and causes the maximum amount of current to pass through the armature I| and Afield I2 of the motor I8. This causes the speed of the motor to increase until the centrifugal force cf the centrifugal Assuming that weight "overcomes the resilient force of its resilient arm Il, whereupon the ber button recedes and the relatively feeble resilient force of the spider M is enabled to move the regulating contact I8-away from the adjusting contact I1. This opening of the contact causes only such current to pass through the motor as is able to pass through the shunt resistance Il.r Thus the speed of the motor decreases until the centrifugal force of the centrifugal weight I6 drops sufi'iciently to again close the circuit throughthe contacts II and I1 and again speed up the motor. In actual practice the balancing of the various forces is so delicate that when the motor has once come up to speed it maintains this speed with no appreciable changesunder all conditions of load change or voltage variation. It should be noticed in this connection that the resilient force of the relatively weak spider M is opposed to that of the resilient arm 3|, this being one of the numerous reasons why `the control -of the present improved speed regulator is so very delicate and yet positive.

If the operator now wishes to have the motor rotate at a higher constant speed he screws in the adjusting contact l1 to some such position as that shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this position the spring arm Il is under greater tension and hence a higher rotative speed is required before the centrifugal force of the centrifugal weight 3| is able to overcome the resilient resistance of the spring arm 4I.

When the operator wishes to disassemble the governor he unscrews the cap screws 52 and removes the cap 50 together with its appurtenances. In this position the spring arm 3| is prevented from moving inwardly an inordinate amount by reason of the stop 31 so that, when the operator desires to reassemble the parts, the fiber button 40 is not able to be swung so far laterally as to miss making contact with the inner face of the regulating contact I6.

Figs. 's and 9 wardly bent, symmetrically disposed brackets.

33a and 6.8.' To these brackets are secured by means of rivets 32a and 10 a symetrically disl posed pair of resilient arms Sla and 1I to the outer ends of which are secured a centrifugal weight 36a and a balancing weight 12. The former is so arranged as to control the speed of the motor, while the function of the latter is to move to such'an outward or inward position as will effect an exact centrifugal dynamic balancing of the centrifugal weight 38a and its appurtenances at every speed of rotation of the motor.

Connected by a ball and socket joint 30a to the central part of the resilient arm 3Ia is a link 28a whose upperend is conected by a ball and socket joint 13 to the central part of a bellcrank-shaped actuating member 24a. The latter is pivoted at 23a to a pair of pivot ears 22a which are punched and bent rearwardly from the main body of the rotating head Zia. To the inner end of the actuating member 24a is secured a round headed button'llla which is preferably constructed of fiber or like material. The outer spherical face of'this button bears against the innner flat transverse face of a spider Ma. Secured coaxially to the outer face of said spider by means of solder 14 or otherwise is a regulating contact I la which is adapted to make contact with, the adjusting contact lla under the influence of the resilient arm Sla and against the innuence of the centrifugal weight "a and the relatively light resilience of the spider Ma. The contacts Ila and Ila are electrically connected to the electric wires Il and l1 in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1-7.

In a manner previously described in connection with said Figs. 1-7. as the motor speeds up the centrifugal force of the centrifugal weight a becomes suiflcient to slightly retract the button 40a, whereupon the resilience of the spider a draws the regulating contact Ita away from the adjusting contact Ila. This opens the circuit and causes the speed of the motor to drop until the centrifugal force of the centrifugal weight 38a is insumcient to overcome the centripedal force of the resilient arm lla, whereupon the contacts Ita, |1a are closed and the motor caused to speed up and the same cycle of operations repeated. The variation in the speed of the motor in actual practice, as previously described, is inflnitesimal.

The adjusting contact I1a is soldered or otherwise secured to the inner end of an adjusting rod 15 which is firmly molded in or otherwise secured to the central part of an insulating bushing 16, which latter. in turn, is molded in or otherwise secured to the central part of a metal bushing 11. The periphery of the latter is exteriorly threaded into the internally threaded bore of a metal sleeve 18 which latter is molded in or otherwise secured to the central part of themotor cap a which is preferably constructed of some such electric insulating material as hard rubber. 'I'he outer end of the insulating bushing 16 is provided with an annular flange l0 so as to be conveniently grasped by the fingers of the operator. When the operator turns this ange 80 in the one or other direction the adjusting contact I|1a is caused to be moved inwardly or outwardly and to thereby cause the motor to rotate at whatever constant speed may be desired. When the proper adjustment of speed has been obtained the adjustment is locked in place by a lock nut 8l which is threaded onto the exterior threads of the metal bushing 11 and is adapted to jam against the verticalvinner face of the metal sleeve 1l. y

Punched and bent obliquely inwardly from the rotating head 2| a is a static balancing lip 82 to which is secured a static balancing weight 83. The latter is adapted to statically balance the weight of the pivot ears 22a and the actuating member 24a and its appurtenances. The particular feature of this construction is that the effectiveness of this static balancing weight 83 may be adjusted by merely bending the lip 82 inwardly or outwardly as may be desired. If a very great adjustment of effectiveness is desired the weight 83 may have part of its stock removed by a drilling operation or increased in weight by a soldering operation in the usual and well known manner.

Fig. 10

In this construction is shown a modied means of controlling the movement of the regulating contact lib. This construction is as follows: Secured to the shaft lsb of the motor Ib by means of a pin 2lb or otherwise is a rotating head 2lb to which at opposite sides is pivoted at 8B a pair of fLv-ball links 85. Eachof the latter is pivoted by a pivot pin 8B to a companion draw link 88. Connected with each of said pivot pins 86 or otherwise suitably connected with the outer end of each companion pair of links 85, 88

is a fly-ball weight 81.

The inner ends of the draw links 86 are pivoted at eis to the opposite sidesv of a slide head en which is slidably mounted at the outer end of the rotating head 2lb but prevented from rotating with respect thereto by the provision of some such suitable means as the square shank 9| illustrated. in the outer end of this slide head 9o is arranged a fiber button 40h which actuates the contacts i627 and i'lb and controls the flow of current through the electric lead wires i vand @il in a manner similar to that previously described.

While only a few embodiments of the invention have been shown in the present application it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed but is only to be limited by' the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l.- In a speed control device for electric'motors the combination of a rotatable support, alever pivotally mounted on the face of said rotatable support, a centrifugal member having a resilient arm mounted at one end on the face of said rotatable plate and adjacent the periphery thereof and having a weight adjacent its free end, said arm being normally under tension to retain the circuit closed, said centrifugal member being adapted to counter-act said `resilient arm and 'actuate said pivotal lever to open the circuit un.

til the centrifugal force is less than the force of said resilient arm, whereby the resilient, arm will again actuate said pivotal lever to close the circuit, and a switch actuating portion on said plvotal lever having a contacting surface, a spider translation member having looped end portions connected to the frame and having a contact portion adapted to be moved longitudinally by engagement with said contacting surface of said pivotal lever, a speed regulating member on the frame, and a member having a contact positioned between said translation member and said speed regulating member.

2l. In a speed control device for electric motors the combination of a rotatable support, a lever pivotally mounted on the face of said rotatable support, a centrifugal member'having a resilient arm mounted at one end on the face of said rotatable plate and adjacent the periphery thereof v' and having av weight adjacent its free end, said arm being normally under tension to retain the circuit closed, said centrifugal member being adapted to counter-act said resilient arm and actuate said pivotal lever to open the circuit until the centrifugal force is less than the force of said resilient arm, whereby the resilient arm will again actuate said pivotal lever to close the circuit, and a switch actuating portion on said pivotal lever having a contacting surface, a spider translation member connected to the frame and having a central contact portion` adapted to`be moved longitudinally by engagement with said contacting surface of said pivotal lever, a speed regulatingmember on the frame, and a member having a contact positioned between said translation member and said speed regulating member.

3. In a speed control device for electric motors the combination of a rotatable support, a lever pivotally mounted on the face of said rotatable support, a centrifugal member having a resilient arm mounted at one end on the face of said rotatable plate and adjacent the periphery thereof and having a weight adjacent its free end, said arm being normally under tension to retain the circuit closed, said centrifugal member being adapted to counteract said resilient arm and actuate said pivotal lever to open the circuit until the centrifugal force is less than the force of said resilient arm, whereby the resilient arm will again actuate said pivotal lever to close the circuit,'and a switch actuating portion on said pivotal lever having a contacting surface, a translation member connected to the frame and having a Contact portion adapted to be moved longitudinally by engagement with said contacting surface of said pivotal lever, a stud member on the frame and a member 'having `:ontact positioned between said translaaoi. member and said Contact member on the frame.

4. vIn a speed control device for electric motors the combination of a rotatable support, a lever pivotally mounted on the face of said rotatable support, a centrifugal member having a resilient arm mounted at one end on the face of said rotatable plate and adjacent the periphery thereof and having a weight adjacent its free end, said arm being normally under tension to retain the circuit closed, said centrifugal `member being adapted to counteract said resilient arm and actuate said pivotal lever to open the circuit until the centrifugal force is less than the force of said resilient arm, whereby the resilient arm will again actuate said pivotal lever Ato close the circuit, and a switch actuating portion on said pivotal lever having a contacting surface, a -spider translation member connected to the frame and having a contact portion adapted to be moved longitudinally by engagement with said contacting surface of said pivotal lever, a stud member on the frame and a member having a contact positioned between said spider translation member and said contact member on the frame.

WILLIAM F. PECK. CHARLES M. SPERAZZ. 

